Jammu: The registration of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath yatra will start from March 18.

The process will start for both the yatra routes -- Baltal and Chandanwari -- on the day through 422 designated bank branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, YES Bank and HDFC Bank all over the country, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Navin K Choudhary said on Saturday.

This year's 55-day yatra will commence from June 28 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan on August 21. Step-by-step procedure which the yatris need to follow to register has been uploaded on the Board's website, which also contains the application form and state-wise list of bank branches with complete addresses.

The CEO said the applicant-yatri will have to furnish a Compulsory Health Certificate while seeking registration. The format of this and state-wise list of doctors or institutes authorised to issue it have also been put on the website.

The certificates issued only after March 1 will be valid, he said, adding that pilgrims under the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years and ladies more than six weeks pregnant would not be registered for the yatra.

Yatra Permits for this year will be different for each day of the week and route to facilitate police personnel deployed at the Access Control Gates at Baltal and Chandanwari in determining whether a yatri possesses valid documents. He also cautioned the intending yatris against undertaking the arduous pilgrimage without securing a permit.